Progress report for
Designation of new marine protected areas in Antarctica
Achievement at a glance
The creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) can protect the Southern Ocean’s unique marine biodiversity and build ocean resilience against climate change. In 2009, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) agreed to establish a representative system of MPAs in the Convention Area by 2012.The EU and its Member States have submitted two MPA proposals to CCAMLR, one in East Antarctica (since 2012) and another in the Weddell Sea (Phase 1) (since 2016).
The CCAMLR Scientific Committee has confirmed that both proposals are based on the best available science. The proposals are co-sponsored by the United States, New Zealand, South Korea, India, Ukraine, Australia, Uruguay, Norway and the United Kingdom. Chile joined as a co-sponsor of the Weddell Sea Phase 1 MPA proposal in 2022 and as a co-sponsor of the East Antarctic MPA proposal in 2024.
Two more proposals are currently under consideration at CCAMLR: the proposal from Chile and Argentina to create a MPA in the (Western) Antarctic Peninsula (so called ‘Domain 1’ MPA), and the proposal from Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States for the Weddell Sea Phase 2 MPA (which complements the Phase 1 proposal).
Challenges faced in implementation
All CCAMLR decisions are taken by consensus. Despite broad support among the CCAMLR membership for designating additional MPAs in Antarctica, CCAMLR has not yet managed to reach consensus on the pending proposals due to continued opposition from two Members. The current geopolitical situation is not conducive to making progress on this important issue.Next Steps
Bénédicte CaremierBeneficiaries
EU Member States, CCAMLR Members and Contracting Parties, present and future generations
Actions
The EU and its Member States re-submitted the East Antarctica and Weddell Sea Phase 1 MPA proposals to CCAMLR for consideration at its 43rd annual meeting held in Hobart, Australia, from 14 to 25 October 2024. However, once again, CCAMLR failed to reach consensus to designate any additional MPAs due to continued opposition from two Members.In June 2023, a special meeting of CCAMLR was held in Chile to consider individual MPA proposals and agree on a roadmap for the adoption of a representative system of MPAs. Despite the best efforts of MPA proponents, the special meeting failed to make any progress on the designation of MPAs.
The EU continues its efforts to build support among other CCAMLR Members. There is already broad support in CCAMLR for the objective of establishing a representative system of MPAs, with 20 out of 27 Members formally co-sponsoring one or more proposals, but outreach continues to bring on board additional Members.